Solo backpacking trip to Hampi, Badami, Pattadakal Aihole - Part 1

Last February (2024) I went for a solo trip to Hampi & Badami. It was a trip which was planned a long time ago but got delayed due to various reasons. Once the trip was finished I got a feeling that I got a time machine and visited back to time. All the places were so rich in history and hence it will take us back to the past.

So I started my journey from Thrissur railway station on wednesday, 7th February 2024 6:15 p.m in Ernakulam - Smvt Bangalore superfast.

Day 1

Bangalore

I reached Krishnarajapuran at around morning 4 o'clock on Thursday. My next train was Bangalore - Dharwad Vande bharat from Bangalore city railway station at 5:45 a.m. So I took an auto from Krishnarajapuram to Bangalore station for 350rs. The train was on time and it was my first time on a vande bharat express. It was truly a premium experience and entirely different from normal Indian trains.

Hubli

After around 5 hours of beautiful journey the train reached Hubbali station which has got the longest railway platform in the world. Just outside the station is the railway museum located. Hence I took a short visit there at around 12 p.m. It was a small museum where various types of train coaches and railway equipment are exhibited.

Hospet

My next train was Hubballi - Narsapur Amaravati express to Hosapete at 1:20 p.m. I ordered lunch via swiggy and ate it on the train. After a two and half hours run along dry farming lands of North Karnataka we reached at Hosapete at 4 o'clock. I took an auto to the ksrtc bus stand area which was only 1 km from the station and the auto charge was only 20 rs. Hosapete is a place where I found autos at very cheap rates. Maybe I am lucky. I took a room at a small hotel called shine comforts near the bus stand which cost me 1600rs for 2 days even if I am going to check out on the next night. The rooms were spacious and clean.

After freshening up I went to the ksrtc stand and took a bus to Tungabhadra dam. It was located around 5 km from the stand and the bus charge was only 10 rs. The frequency of buses to the dam was less and the bus I got was so crowded. After 20 mins of ride I reached the dam entry gate.

It is a beautiful dam with a lot of activities and garden areas. We need to take a bus (plying between the ticket counter area to the dam top with ticket charge 20 rs) or walk to reach the dam top area from where we get the best view of the dam. I recommend visiting the place in the evening to get a beautiful sunset view. I spent around an hour there and returned back after the sunset.

From the opposite side of the dam entrance I got a shared auto to bus stand area for 20 rs. Had dinner from Udupi Sri Krishna Bhavan restaurant just opposite the bus stand and went to sleep.

Day 2

Hampi

I went to the bus stand at next morning 7 o'clock to take the bus to Hampi. Buses to Hampi are available from morning 7. It comes at platform 12 and bus no is 10. As I enquired, the last bus from Hampi to here is at 7:30 p.m.

Since it was early morning bus was not crowded. Hampi was located 13km from Hosapete and after a 30mins journey bus reached Hampi. There was not a proper bus stand in Hampi but a common place for all vehicles to park. Buses come here and return. It was so close to Virupaksha temple. I walked to the Virupaksha temple and the beautiful temple complex was shining with early morning sunrays. Virupaksha temple is the most popular and most visited spot at Hampi. The architectural beauty of Hampi is unexplainable in words and Virupaksha temple is one of the major attraction here. I spent around 20 mins inside the temple.

After that I walked to the nearby Tungabhadra river ghat area and from there walked to a small street side food spot called hotel swagath and had a tasty breakfast at a very affordable rate from there.

After that I walked along the Hampi Bazaar area to Shri Achyutaraaya Swamy Temple. It was a good walk along the base of Matanga hills passing the monolithic Nandi statue on the way. The whole area was so calm with very few tourists and hence the walk was so thrilling. Achyutaraaya temple situated at the foot of Matanga hills is another amazing architectural wonder.

From there I walked towards Shree Vijaya Vitthala Temple where the famous stone chariot is located. It was a 2 km walk passing along attractions like Sugriva's cave, Kings balance etc. and it was so refreshing. After a 40 minute walk, reached Shree Vijaya Vitthala temple complex. The ticket charge to enter the complex was 40 rs and it covers all other monuments in Hampi. It was yet another architectural beauty and the main attraction was the stone chariot which was printed in the 50 rs currency notes. After spending some quality time there I took an auto towards the Zenana Enclosure area. The auto charged me 300 rs for the 6 km ride.

The Zenana enclosure & nearby area has the largest number of monuments including Royal Palace, Pushkarani, Hazara Raama Temple, Lotus Mahal & Elephant Stables. All these monuments take us back to the past and make us feel like we are walking in the 14th or 15th century. Lotus mahal had a unique architecture and stood out from other attractions. It was morning 11 o'clock now and the scorching heat was becoming intolerable.

After that I walked towards the Underground Shiva Temple. We have to get down from the ground level to go inside the temple. The floor inside the temple was filled with water and was very dark and we had to use a torch or mobile flash to navigate inside. It was a unique experience.

From here I got a lift and the person who gave me the lift told me that there was some festival going on at a nearby temple and annadanam is available. So I had food from there which was very tasty.

After that I walked back to Hampi Bazaar area and on the way visited Shri Lakshmi Narasimha Temple & Shri Krishna Swami Temple. Both of these were stunning and never to be missed monuments in Hampi.

It was 2 p.m when I reached the Hampi bazaar area and the weather was very hot and hence I spent a couple of hours at Trishul cafe having some juices.

In the evening I visited Saasivekaalu Ganesha & went to Sunset point on Hemakuta hills. We will get a panoramic view of Hampi from here. The view of Virupaksha temple from the top was splendid. After watching a beautiful sunset from there I took the return bus to Hosapete at 6:45 p.m.